Letter to the Editor, Aug. 23, 2019

When one begins with erroneous assumptions, s/he cleaves to inconsistent conclusions.

Democrats, liberals, progressives, independents do not advocate rescinding the people’s power in favor of more for the government. Many Americans feel their Constitutional rights eroding; only arch-conservatives find this promising.

We see our Constitutional rights eroding when the Senate refuses to protect our elections from foreign influence, when government restricts voting rights, constrains the roles of consumer and environmental protection agencies, enforces a gag rule prohibiting abortion counseling to Medicaid patients, bans Center for Disease Control research on gun violence.

The power to protect our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and way of life does not reside in the Second Amendment; it lies in comprehensive voting rights for all citizens and full participation of all Americans. The U.S. has more gun deaths than other developed nations and higher levels of gun ownership. The attitude that one must have guns to perpetuate Constitutional rights is unique only to the U.S. We cannot think of the Second Amendment as a back-stop to restoring democracy.

Many Americans perceive that President Donald Trump’s government has too much power.

If our checks and balances were working, policies which a majority of Americans favor would find fruition. Medicare for All, affordable drug prices, a fortified social security system, a living wage, affordable housing, excellent schools for all, climate protection, the end of corporate welfare, clean air and water, the end of for-profit prisons and border cages for separating migrating families, and strong unions would all be viable parts of American life. Big Money would be banished from our elections. Our courts would not lean so heavily toward conservative outcomes.

If we are to preserve our Constitution, we must review current events through a clear, transparent lens. Only with unblemished vision will we restore power to “We the people.”